'Petey the Prairie Dog' plays with children at Bryce Canyon National Park on Friday as part of the annual Prairie Dog Day.

Written by

Josh Huntsman
jhuntsman@thespectrum.com

Bryce Canyon National Park put the protected Utah prairie dog squarely in the spotlight Friday with the Park's fourth annual Prairie Dog Day, during which park personnel seek to educate the public on the biological importance of the species.

In a small meadow near the park's Visitor's Center, Jasmin Kasvaei of Germany and Olivia Foley of Tallahassee, Fla., took part in the day's festivities by getting their first glance of a prairie dog colony.

"They are very cute," said Kasvaei. "It's nice to see them for real and not just in pictures in newspapers or books." ...